Trace-carrier.



No. 864,331. PATENTED AUG. 27, 1907,

0. T. OLSON.

TRACE CARRIER. nrmcuxou FILED mung, I906.

flamrffllson WITNESSES.-

I [NI 'E/VfOR, W 3 a A pi I I I Qfl ub A froze/v5 Y5 UNITED STATES OSCART. OLSON, OF BLANOHARDVILLE, WISCONSIN.

TRACE-CARRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 27', 1907.

Application filed June 9, 1906. $e1ial No. 321,081-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR T. OLSON, a citizen ofthe United States,residing at Blanchardville, in the countyof Lafayette and State ofWisconsin, have invented a new and useful Trace-Carrier, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a combined trace-carrier and rein-guide.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable, inexpensiveand thoroughly efficient device of the character specified which can besecured to the back strap of a set of harness so as to be adapted tosupport the free ends of the traces when the harness is not in use, andalso to act as a convenient rein-guide for receiving the reins andholding them separated from 7 each other while driving, at the same timepreventing the reins from slipping off the horses back when they areloosely held by the driver, and also preventing them from becomingentangled with the horses tail.

With the foregoing, and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope ofthe following claims without departing from the spirit of the inventionor sacrificing any of its advantages.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification:Figure 1is a plan view showing an improved trace-carrier and rein-guideconnected with the hip'and back straps. Fig. 2 is a side elevationthereof. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing a modified construction.

Like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in the differentfigures of the drawing.

The reference numeral 1 indicates the ordinary back strap of a set ofharness; 2, a tail strap adapted to extend under the tail in the usualmanner; 3, an ordinary hip strap which serves to suspend the breechingor hold-back.

The combined trace-carrier and rein-guide of this invention comprises abody portion 4 which is formed of any suitable material such, forexample, as cast or sheet metal. While the body portion 4 may be of anysuitable shape, I prefer that it be formed with a convex forward edge 5,a concave rear edge 6 and oppositely extending rearwardly inclined neckportions 7. The convex forward edge 5 of the body portion 4 preferablyis disposed over the hip strap 3, suitable fastening device such forexample as the rivet 8 being passed through the body portion 4, backstrap 1 and hip strap 3 so as to secure these members firmly together.The body portion 4 is formed in its under surface with a backstrapchannel 9 through which extends the back-strap 1. When the body portion4 is formed of sheet metal it may be suitably bent to produce theback-strap channel 9, and when the body portion is cast, the channel 9may be suitably formed therein during the molding or casting operation.If desired, the body portion 4 may be formed at its forward end with ahipstrap channel 10 which extends transversely with respect to theback-strap, although this hip-strap channel is not absolutely necessary.By providing channels 9 and 10 through which the back-strap 1 andhipstrap 3 extends, said straps are prevented from producing projectionson the lower surface of the tracecarrier which may press uncomfortablyagainst the horses back.

On its upper surface, at opposite sides of the backstrap 1, the bodyportion 4 is formed or provided with suitable rein-channels 11, which,when the device is formed of sheet metal may be produced by bending thesame, and when the device is formed of cast metal, by suitably moldingthe same. The central portion of the upper surface of the body portion4, between the rein-channels, preferably is arched or inclined downwardon opposite sides of the back-strap so that if the reins all strike thecentral arched portion, which is indicated by the numeral 12, they willslide outward into the rein-channels 11 where they will rest and beseparated from each other. The rearwardly inclined neck portions 7 atthe opposite ends of the body-portion 4 preferably are bent or extendedupward to form shanks 15 having enlarged heads 16 which serve as hooksfor receiving the eyes 17 on the ends of the traces 18 so as to supportthe said traces properly when the harness is not in use or when theanimal is not hitched to a vehicle.

By the modified construction of my invention, I provide guard-plates 20on opposite sides of the shanks 15 of the hook, said guard-plates 20extending outwardly beyond the shank 15 and head 16 serving to supportthe eye 17, so that all of the wear caused by the movement of said eyewill not fall upon the neck portion 7 but will be taken up to a greatextent by the guard-plate 20.

The modified form of the combined rein-guide and trace-carrierpreferably is stamped from a sheet metal blank as shown in Fig. 3, itbeing only necessary to slit the sheet metal blank as indicated at 22and then bend up the shank 15 and head 16, leaving the guardplates 20 ascontinuations of the neck portions 7 of the device. Each of the slits 22preferably is right angular in form as shown, although the same resultcan be produced by a curved slit.

In the modified form of the invention, the backstrap channel andrein-channels, as well as the central arched portion 12 are all of theform originally described.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the combinedrein-guide and trace-carrier of this invention is strong, simple,durable and inexpensive in construction as Well as thoroughly eificientin operation.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is: A combinedtrace-carrier and rein-guide comprising a sheet metal body portionhaving rearwardly inclined neck portions with parallel heads upstandingat theterminals thereof and spaced apart, said body portion having atrans-

